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Sabres try to reverse recent slide vs. Bruins

Jan 30, 2007 - 3:50 PM Boston (22-22-4) at Buffalo (33-14-4) 7:00 pm EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- A terrific start by the Buffalo Sabres has enabled them to absorb a series of bumps in the road.

The Sabres try to snap a three-game losing streak Tuesday when they host their Northeast Division rivals, the Boston Bruins, in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Despite leading the league in goals (190) and topping the Eastern Conference in victories (33), Buffalo was swept on its recent three-game road trip and has dropped five of six. However, the Sabres have a nine-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the division race.

Buffalo is coming off Saturday's 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers. Jochen Hecht scored twice and Alex Kotalik netted his 14th goal before goaltender Ryan Miller surrendered three third-period tallies.

The Bruins, who are just 3-8-1 in January, have lost four of their past five contests overall and are 8-12-2 on the road this season.

Boston yielded a pair of shorthanded goals and one on the power play in their sixth consecutive loss to the New York Rangers, a 6-1 defeat on Monday. Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins in the first period.

Buffalo has won three of the first four encounters against Boston this season, including a 6-3 victory on January 17. Daniel Paille scored twice and Thomas Vanek added a power-play tally for the Sabres.